Magical Oscar fires SIPG into ACL last 16
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 22, 2019
Brazilian Oscar scored a hat-trick as Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG FC secured a fourth consecutive appearance in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after beating Group H winners Ulsan Hyundai FC from Korea Republic 5-0 on Tuesday.
With a win guaranteeing Shanghai a place in the knockout stage, Oscar opened the scoring at the Shanghai Stadium after just seven minutes before doubling the home side's lead just before half-time.
Li Shenglong added a third midway through the second half, and after Oscar netted his third of the night inside the final quarter of an hour, substitute Hu Jinghang ensured Shanghai secured second place in Group H behind the K-League side at the expense of Japan's Kawasaki Frontale.
Kawasaki beat Sydney FC 4-0 in Australia but were still a point shy behind Shanghai.
Needing a win to be certain of a place in the knockout stage at the expense of the J.League side, Shanghai made the ideal start as Oscar and striker Elkeson exchanged passes on the edge of the Ulsan penalty area, creating the space the midfielder needed to find the back of the net with a first-time finish after just seven minutes.
The goal took the pressure off the home side, and after controlling much of the first half, Shanghai doubled their lead three minutes before half-time as Oscar curled an effort from just outside of the penalty area over Ulsan goalkeeper Moon Jung-in after the Brazilian had raced onto a long ball forward.
Oscar came close to completing his hat-trick just after the hour mark, but a back-pedalling Moon was able to turn a looping free-kick from the Brazilian over the crossbar.
Shanghai, though, did not have to wait long to add a third as Li surged into the Ulsan penalty area before rifling a shot across Moon and into the far corner from a tight angle.
And Shanghai sealed a second win of the group stage with 14 minutes remaining as Elkeson's perfectly weighted pass played in Oscar who made no mistake in slipping the ball past the advancing Moon from inside the area to complete his hat-trick.
There was still time for the home to add a fifth as substitute Hu was on hand to follow up after Moon could only parry Elkeson's shot with two minutes remaining.
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